Do you think we should test high schools students for mental illness before sending them off to college?

Question

College, military service, and other big life changes often trigger mental illness.

We normally say for physical illness that prevention is more effective than cure.

If we can detect mental illness early, before college, then perhaps we can prevent it, or control it more easily.

Do you think we should test all high school students, before they go out into the real world? Could this be done like why give children vaccinations?

I mean, "Could/Should this be done in the same way that we give children vaccinations?"

I wish my computer had a logic check as well as a spell check.

boogy and others, please understand that I'm not making a statement, I'm asking a question.

I appreciate all the answers, please don't get offended. And please feel free to share your point of view.

Answer 1

lol, yes it can be done and should be done your on to something young man

Answer 2

You know, I think almost every person is mentally ill in some way. We all have hurts, angers, and resentment. And we struggle with these issues. This is life.

We could give a test to all high school students to see if they have a heart beat and are human.

Yes there are serious mental illnesses out there: schizophrenia, multiple personality etc. They need to be treated. But why the mass hysteria about seeing if everybody is ADD or ADHD? I took a poll in some of my classes I teach and the high schoolers had never heard of ADD or ADHD. I'm in Eastern Europe. I believe this ADD ADHD witch hunt is a phenomonem of the USA.

Answer 3

College is a place where many people are left out only few are able to get accepted into a large group. For some they don't take it personally and move on but for some, it haunts them.

Even if they are talented they forget about their abilities and think why they are not getting accepted and it leads to disaster.

And getting accepted should not at all be a criteria for acceptance rather finding people who are like minded and accentuate your abilities should be the criteria.

So a session with a counselor before joining such a place will not do any harm rather will help those who are left out to take things easily and find their kind of friends and group easily and also polishing the skills they are good at.

Answer 4

Hi there well first of all I think this new school is going to be okay (: The first day jitters happen to many people with and without mental illness! I for one have Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Bipolar Depression, and Self Mutilation tendencies. I had all these problems since seventh grade and I am going to be a sophomore in college... So it will get better ! You need to first think of the positive out look of going to a new school although anxiety will kick in everyone else will be anxious and some may be more than you ! Do not sweat making friends at first with mental illness you need to learn to be a selfish person at times and only worry about how you feel going into high school . Wear clothes that make you feel confident! Also I know it is hard to express yourself in class but if you do your best when it comes to being yourself ....you will shine through not your mental illness! I used to have performance anxiety when I would go to new jobs and I understand how the pressures of perfection may hurt you and make you want to hurt yourself to get your mind off the pressure. But in the end its not worth it, try positive affirmations , like tell yourself you are obviously talented or they would not have chosen you in the first place ! Also with the self harming its not worth it! It has taken me years to realize the internal and external scars are only going to remind me of my problems not help me move past them! With friends the real ones will find you remember its not like we wear signs with our disorders on them so they will like you for who you are with out knowing anything that is going on up stairs. I hope this helps and keep your chin up and remember to put yourself first ! Make sure to do things you enjoy! Remember it will all fall into place (:

Answer 5

You've got to be kidding. Many mental illnesses have a late onset, for one thing. Also, there aren't enough qualified examiners in the school system to handle the load, and it would be prohibitively expensive. Third, many of us with mental illness do fine in school (I have a masters degree). Fourh, mental illness isn't "preventable"; it's due to screwy brain chemistry. Fifth, you can't test for mental illness before it manifests, only identify who's at risk (sometimes, but certainly not reliably).
I suggest you research mental illness before making such statements!

Answer 6

testing healthy young people to detect early signs of mental illness?

you might be thinking "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure".

However, I think you're probably barking up the wrong tree.

If real life stresses, college life, military service and major life changes [are often the triggers] then testing young people before they have many life experiences is akin to putting the cart before the horse - ounce for ounce - wasted prevention.

The military does psychological evaluation...

Answer 7

I doubt most mental illness can be accurately predicted, or that psychiatry or psychology has much to offer in terms of useful information on the subject, other than the pharmacology of tranquilizers and holding facilities for the less cooperative.